Friends of the Forum - First Preparatory Meeting at the United Nations Office at Geneva

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About GFMD

Since its inception in 2007, the GFMD has helped shape the global debate on migration and development, by offering a space where governments can discuss the multi-dimensional aspects, opportunities and challenges related to migration and its inter-linkages with development. Through the years, the GFMD has also evolved into a process that allows governments to openly analyze and discuss sensitive and sometimes controversial issues, to listen to different positions and explore synergies and joint solutions through partnerships. In the process, it has contributed to deepening the understanding of the complex relationship between migration and development, and infused the global debate on this critical issue with more clarity, objectivity and coherence.

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Our Partners

The GFMD is the singular and biggest informal but state-led global process on migration and development outside the UN framework. It maintains its strong links with the United Nations, nonetheless, through the strategic guidance of the UN SRSG for International Migration and the support of the Global Migration Group. To promote an inclusive and constructive dialogue and collaborative action, the GFMD engages with governments and other relevant stakeholders, including international organizations, the civil society and the private sector. Partnership and cooperation is a principal modality of the process.

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Our Impact

As a state-led, informal and non-binding process, the Forum has generated significant results in terms of policy development and action at the national, regional and international levels. Its accumulated knowledge and practice and policy-oriented outcomes now serve as key reference points for both government policy-makers and other relevant stakeholders in migration and development field. In recent years, the GFMD has contributed to the global efforts to include migration in the 2030 Agenda and to advocate for a Global Compact on safe, orderly, regular and responsible migration.

GFMD 2017-2018 Co-Chairmanship

"Towards a Global Social Contract on Migration and Development”

Tenth GFMD Summit

28 to 30 June 2017, Berlin

Germany and Morocco have assumed the co-chairmanship of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) from 1 January 2017 until 31 December 2018.

During this two-year period, the focus will be on the contribution of the GFMD to the United Nations’ Global Compact on Migration. The Compact is intended to constitute a strong signal of the international community for an enhanced global migration policy, to be adopted by the community of states in 2018.

As a member of Troika of the GFMD, Bangladesh will play its part in ensuring that the GFMD is used as a platform for pushing the boundaries of what is possible and generating consensus around ambitious outcomes for the GCM.

Ambassador Ahsan, GFMD 2016 Chair

02/02/2017

It has been a meeting that has allowed us to listen as Co-Chairs of GFMD, this new role that we have, to prepare the contribution of GFMD to GCM.

El Habib Nadir, Co-Chair Morocco

02/02/2017

The ad hoc Working Group on SDGs and GCM maintain an open dialogue with other member states in order to formulate GFMD recommendations and ensure an inclusive and transparent process.

Brazil

02/02/2017

Thanks to the trust built by the GFMD, we now have a UN compact.

Sweden

02/02/2017

We hope that participating members will seize this opportunity, notably here in Geneva, to translate GFMD outcomes into global compact commitments, as you did for the 2013 HLD and the New York Declarations.

Francois Fouinat, Senior Advisor to the UN SRSG Peter Sutherland

02/02/2017

GFMD could synthesize its wealth of knowledge in a coherent way for submission to the stock-taking exercise in order to substantiate discussions. This work could be led by the ad hoc WG on 2030 Agenda and GCM.

Evidence Base

M&D Quips and Clips

"We should understand the New York Declaration within the framework of the Global Forum on Migration and Development (GFMD) that took place in Bangladesh this past December.The language used to introduce this summit demonstrated the current relevance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN’s Agenda 2030, and the need to apply them in a transformative way in the field of migration."

Ambassador Arturo Cabrera Hidalgo, Ecuador, UN Special

03/07/2017

The role of the GFMD as a think tank and discussion ground should be maintained in future deliberations in Global Compact on Migration.

"This annual forum of discussion on the link between migration and development is an open space of exchange on migration’s positive dynamics and challenges over the years and its influence on our societies."

"The motto of the GFMD will be "Towards a Global Social Contract on Migration and Development". In particular, the balance of interests between migrants and their countries of origin, transit states and destinations will be addressed within the framework of regular and orderly migration.

"Delegates also stressed the need for opening legal channels for migration for all categories of people -- skilled or low-skilled -- and effective border management to combat people smuggling or human trafficking."

"Bangladesh pressed home the idea of designing a global compact on migration that would ensure the rights of emigrants. Most of the countries present were in favor of an international law on the issue while some countries wanting a convention on it."

"This forum was thus only one step in long reflection that should lead to a common and consultative global migration policy. Like trade or climate change, migration is transnational…A multi-nation forum may or may not be the best frame or solution. But it is a sufficient and necessary step for making progress on the issues. The Global Forum must be seen as more than an obscure meeting,"

"The Dhaka meeting brought together policy makers, UN agencies and civil society to discuss cooperation in global, social and labour market governance and issues such as gender, ethical recruitment, reducing migration costs, diversity and protection of migrants."